Arriving at the Salvatore boarding house seemed to take forever and a lifetime. The trip back seemed longer than she remembered; or perhaps it was due to the incessant chatter from Kai every step of the way.
Bonnie's body ached, to which she hoped she wasn't getting out of shape but assumed it was from all she had been through the past several days. It was all beginning to take a toll on her physically, and mentally. As a whole she was just tired. In the moment, all she could think about was a much needed hot shower, and rest.
Bonnie made a beeline towards the staircase that bent and angled upwards to the second floor, the light drumming of Kai's hands against the bannister causing her to turn around and look down at him in question.
"You were out for about five or six hours, want me to whip up a little something something to eat? Minus the whole drink-spiking."
Bonnie snorted. "You really think I'm going to accept anything you make for me? That's cute."
"Oh?" Kai angled his head off to the side slightly, placing one foot on the bottom step to lift himself onto it, the space between Bonnie and Kai faltered little, his eyes flickering with mischievous intent. "You think I'm cute? We've only been here for a couple of minutes now and It seems like I'm already making progress." Kai hummed. "Guess the charms are working."
Bonnie's smile turned sour at his play on her words, finding herself taking an absent minded step backwards up the stairs at his small advance.
"Working as good as my magic right now. Speaking of which," Bonnie quipped, crossing her arms over her chest once she brought her hip to lean into the bannister beside her. "You probably shouldn't be wasting your time cooking, Gordon Ramsey. Your time is limited. You gave yourself one night to try and find an answer to the loss of my magic, and if we're being technical here? That means tonight, at midnight. Clock's ticking." Bonnie tapped at the imaginary watch on her wrist.
Kai pursed his lips, his head dipping down to gaze down at his fiddling hands, picking at his thumb nail with the other. Shortly after he moved to tap at his own wrist, where as he actually wore a watch. A look of pseudo-confusion took his visage.
"You see, the problem with that? I think my watch is busted. You," Kai gestured to her; in particular to her stomach wound he had inflicted. "Are busted, and honestly Bon if we want to play the technicality game, giving me one night can range to any of these.. Wonderful repeating nights of May 10th, 1994." One corner of Kai's lips curled upwards into a crooked grin. "You've so generously given me forever to figure out our little scooby-doo mystery here."
Bonnie hissed through clenched teeth. "Don't twist the words we agreed on, Kai."
"Twist? No, they were as clear as day. I'm only playing a game you started." Kai waited a beat, before asking. " By the way, who the hell is Gordon Ramsey?"
Bonnie wouldn't indulge in this conversation any longer. Regardless of how technical this had become, she stood by her words. She would be gone by the night if no solution was found. Bonnie turned away from him without another word and made her way up the stairs and to the bedroom that she had claimed out of the many in the boarding house.
She couldn't get to the shower fast enough. Stripping of the clothing she wore once she stepped into the bathroom, she hadn't realized that even now she still wore the same clothing that was stained with her blood from a few days before. The cream-colored lace tank top, though beautiful before was now stained with old blood that once it hit air; dried and darkened in color. The grey plaid shirt unbutton overtop shared the same stains as the acid wash jeans she wore- dust and dirt clutching onto the fabric. She looked at herself in the mirror as one by one she began to shed free an article of clothing, where they pooled at the ground around her feet.
God, she thought.
She looked horrible, and rightfully so.
Her hair was unkempt, going in every which way direction on her head. Dirt had found its way throughout her her brunette bob, cluttering and causing her hair to clump in more places than others whereas before the short cut perfectly framed her heart shaped face.
Her eyes, a beautiful mossy green though lacked their usual flair in color were now weary to further express how tired she felt.
She began to wonder how the hell Kai even looked at her given how badly she looked.. He was usually one to express his feelings about everything despite how harsh they were. He probably thought she looked like an absolute trash dump.. Probably smelled like one too.
She then began to ask herself why she even cared about what Kai thought. If anything, Kai was the reason she looked this way. Why she was such a mess. Why she had a hole in her stomach. Bonnie believed Kai didn't care in the slightest. The only thing on his mind had been to get out of this prison world; nothing more and nothing less. However her mind began to wander to other possibilities.
It became apparent to her, that after she removed to the bandage that the surrounding area of the wound was swollen and irritated. Off colored from her skin, darker in shades with hints of purple more so nearest the stitches. For right now, there was no pain. The meds she had taken before were strong and would last her a couple of hours more before she needed them again. She took note that she would have to take care while in the shower.
Upon turning the metallic dial within the shower, thousands of lukewarm to balmy water drops trickled free from the showerhead, tapping against the ceramic floor tiles below. The shower itself was small; and in no way nicer than Damon's, though it did the job. Steam filled the small bathroom quickly several moments before Bonnie pulled back the shower curtain, stepping in.
The warm water darkened her hair on contact, further trickling down to flourish across every inch of her skin, soaking her entirely. Bonnie turned her face to the water, her hands lifting to flush away the dirt and stress from her face. Beside her, shampoo and soap followed, the scent of lemon grass filling her nostrils as she began to lather herself. Her touch was delicate, careful not to scrub around her wound too hard. Light soap and water to cleanse it as best she could without irritating it further.
Bonnie allowed herself to succumb to her thoughts now. Thoughts that reluctantly, revolved around Kai as before. This prison world served as a population of two, and while Kai acted as a danger to both herself, and the lives of the Coven he's apart of, Bonnie had to play nice for her own sake. She almost recalled this being simpler when they first met. When she hadn't known that he killed his family, that he was a psychopath. That outside his mind games, there was a sliver of a moment that Bonnie held the slightest attraction to Kai. He worked fast, getting to her. His smooth talk, his kindness. How he made advances towards her when trying to help her focus her magic on the tracking spell for the ascendant. Overall, he got under skin.
Bonnie began to wonder if it had all been an act. If, the way he acted then, and what he had said not too long ago had been true; that he liked Bonnie, and that he didn't want to hurt her. Reading Kai wasn't an easy job, and despite her being a witch with psychic abilities not yet thoroughly explored, his next movements or thoughts were never all that clear. Bonnie just wished she understood or could get the slightest understanding of the man- boy- that she shared the same roof with.
Turning the shower nozzle off, Bonnie stepped out of the shower, making quick to grab hold of the towel resting on the towel rack docked to the wall beside the shower itself. Securely wrapping it around her after drying off, Bonnie moved to the mirror to take care of her other hygienic needs.
Bonnie pressed a hand to the mirror, now fogged from the steam that once clouded the bathroom and swiped her hand across it, revealing her face. She looked, and felt better for the most part; however due to the water her once straight-cut bob was now in bundles of natural curls that spilled around her crown, several strands dropping down over her widows peak and resting against her dark eyelashes. For the night she settled to leave her hair in this state. It was much more easier to manage, and took little to no time to fix up.. Not that she had anything to fix up for.
Though it was just a mere few hours after noon, Bonnie was tired, and felt like she could sleep for a decade. Once she had left the bathroom that was attached to the room, she made quick to rummage through her drawers for sleep wear. She and Damon made quick to raid the stores around Mystic Falls during their first few months here. Everything was free and for the taking, and so they figured, why not?
The pair of pajamas Bonnie had picked out had been simple two- piece Satin graphic print design set. It was black in color, the designs a golden tone that Bonnie personally liked. It reflected nicely against her bronze skin. Not only was it soft, but it glided perfectly against her body in however way she rested or moved so that there was little to no restriction, and all comfort.
Bonnie's bed beckoned to her, and she wouldn't dare ignore it's call any longer.
Just as she moved to shut the curtains so that the bright rays of the afternoon sun could no longer shine through her bedroom, she heard a loud knock on her door. A knock, that had her jolt where she stood. She knew immediately who it was. After all, who else could it be?
Gripping at the opening of the curtains, she turned herself slightly so that she could look at the door, as if she could see him standing there. She could feel his presence.
"Bon? You in there?" Kai's voice rang through, slightly muffled behind the door. He sounded like he was eating something.
Bonnie's eyes dropped down to the door knob and the lock in particular, which to her dismay was unlocked. Dropping her shoulders, a deep sigh left her lips, the exhale pushing through her words as she spoke.
"What do you want now?" Bonnie asked, tone void of interest. She made slow movements around her bed, padding barefoot across the the wood floor towards the door.
"Aw, I'm happy to hear your voice too," Kai quipped, the loud crunch of whatever he was eating passing between the barrier of the door between them. Bonnie assumed it was his favorite snack; pork rinds.
"Tried knocking about thirty minutes ago but I got no answer. Got just a little nervous? Figured you were going to go back on our deal after the little spat we had, so I made my way outside and around the side to check your window. Would have been surprised to see you scaling down the side of the boarding house like a expert Alpinist."
Kai paused, as if to rethink what he said. "Actually, no I wouldn't be surprised. You're plucky."
Bonnie was at the door now, her back resting against the wall beside it with a hand lifted to pinch at the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Get to the point, maybe?"
"I'm heading out to the store to pick up some last minute things for dinner. Lunch is all wrapped up and ready to go for you in the fridge. Nothin' special. Just some sandwiches. Can fix your drink if you'd like. Haven't duped our water supply, promise."
Bonnie scoffed.
"Anyway, did you want anything from the store in particular while I'm out? Can get you some of that really healthy green stuff I've seen you tank through with Damon.."
"Brussel sprouts?" Bonnie shook her head, tilting her it back against the wall. "They're great for you and they taste awesome.. If you cook them right, anyway."
"Brussel what? You mean like the place?"
"That's Brussels," Bonnie corrected.
Kai made a sound of disgust. "Green bombshells that'll wreak havoc on your taste buds with their bitter tendencies. Understood."
Bonnie bit down on her lower lip. As if to bite back the urge to smile. "I don't want anything, no."
"I'll be sure to bring you back something nice. Don't miss me too much while I'm gone."
Bonnie could hear the creaking of the floor panels beneath his feet as he began to walk away, before it stopped, and his steps grew closer again. "Oh, almost forgot." The sound of him rifling through something could be heard. "You should probably change the bandages you've got there. Clean it, re-wrap so it doesn't get infected. I've got fresh bandages. Open up so I can give it to you?"
Bonnie's eyeline dropped to sound of the copper knob turning beside her. With a quick hand she grabbed the knob, stopping it before it fully turned and pressing her hip into the door to keep it shut. Her thumb passed over the lock to click it in place moments after. She felt Kai release the knob seconds later.
"That was a little rude." Kai murmured.
"So was opening the door before I could let you in." Bonnie snapped, before glancing down at her toes. "Ever think I was indecent? In the middle of getting dressed?"
"A sight worth seeing, I'm sure." Kai's voice lowered an octave, a suggestive hum leaving him that though behind the door vibrated throughout Bonnie. She closed her eyes to clear her thoughts before waving her hand.
"Leave it at the door. I'll get it once I'm ready." Bonnie said after a moment of silence, swallowing back the rush of something she didn't quite want to be so sure of.
"Whatever the lady wants." Kai said, his voice back to its cheery tone as before. She heard the light thud of the items dropping in front of her door, and the sound of Kai walking away for good this time. His voice though light carried down the hall as he made his way down the stairwell. "Be back in a jiffy!"
Bonnie waited until she heard the revving of Damon's Camaro outside soften in volume as it careened down the street before opening her door. The boarding house was silent, and at the bottom at her feet were the medical necessities she needed to take care of herself. Scooping them up and closing the door behind her again, she turned to look at her bed, all warm looking and ready for her to curl up in.
Soon; she said herself, as if her bed could hear her. She made quick steps back into the bathroom, glancing down at the clothing she previously wore on the ground in front of the sink. With her foot she carefully kicked it aside, before placing the bandages on the counter. Having previously cleaned the wound during her shower, it took her little to no time to simply place the cotton patch over the damaged area, taping it into place before going back and wrapping the longer bandage that was available around her torso to keep it secure. It wasn't too tight, but tight enough to keep everything in place.
Bonnie didn't waste anymore time. She practically ran back to her bedroom, crawling onto the soft comforter of the bed before slipping beneath it. Her bedroom was quite dimmed thanks to the thick dark curtains on the windows hiding the largest light source their was. Dropping her head down limply against the pillow beneath her, a few stray curls of her hair dropped into her vision, before she pushed out a bit of air through pursed lips to send them aside. Beside her the small lamp on the night table remained on. She stared at it, contemplating on whether or not she should keep it on, or not.
Bonnie wasn't afraid of the dark. Not in the slightest. She was more so afraid of, what could pop out of the darkness. Or who.
It was only be a matter of hours; by her choice, that she would be here. Kai's time for finding an answer to the disappearance of her magic was limited, and Bonnie made sure that she would sleep away the majority of it. With that, she made the decision to turn off the light. She would hope that in her sleep, she would receive another premonition. One that would explain the one she had several hours before. She needed to know where that magic was. And if there was a possibility? That she could find her way there to get it, and get the hell out of this place once and for all.
Sleep soon took her, the weight of her eyelids finally succeeding before she was pulled into a deep, much needed sleep.